What causes frequent nausea and vomiting when working night shifts?
Oct 08, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
Feeling nauseous and vomiting frequently during night shifts may be caused by high work pressure leading to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Frequently eating late-night snacks during night shifts can overload the gastrointestinal system, impairing digestion. Additionally, excessive physical fatigue may reduce immunity, increasing susceptibility to intestinal pathogens and resulting in chronic gastritis, which can also contribute to recurring nausea and vomiting during night shifts. Another possible cause is gastric ulcers.
Constant nausea and vomiting during night shifts are usually caused by autonomic nervous system dysfunction, chronic gastritis, or gastric ulcers.
1. Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction
Nausea and vomiting during night shifts may result from high work pressure, which causes prolonged mental stress. This can lead to abnormalities in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, resulting in autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
2. Chronic Gastritis
Frequently eating late-night snacks during night shifts may overload the digestive system. Additionally, physical exhaustion can reduce immunity, making one susceptible to intestinal pathogens. This can trigger chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa, leading to chronic gastritis, which often presents with persistent nausea and vomiting during night shifts.
3. Gastric Ulcer
Persistent nausea and vomiting during night shifts may also be due to damage in gastric tissues such as the antrum or angularis, causing gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers tend to worsen after prolonged fasting or overeating, leading to symptoms such as bloating, dull pain, and a burning sensation in the stomach, which can induce nausea and vomiting.
